Fortissimo Coffeehouse

It is a nice place to enjoy a good coffee and pastry. Located on a main street, limited parking outside. Pleasant interiors, clean restrooms, good service, they even serve the coffee in real mugs, which is much better than disposable. The downside - the chocolate muffin was salty, perhaps too much baking soda. And the prices are a bit too high. The wall mounted tables are too high, uncomfortable. Still a good experience overall 😌

Why anyone who knew of this bread would ever eat any other bread is beyond me. This Pão de queijo is phenomenal!!!! I also ordered crepes for our kiddos and they loved them!!! Will be back!

Good spot for some breakfast & quick bite to eat. The breakfast bagel I had wasn’t bad it was good for on the go & pretty quick service. It was a lil bit pricey for 2 breakfast sandwiches & 1 frappe. The frappe was was also pretty good, the shop was clean & fair amount of space to sit and eat. Great area for walking to & from, not so much parking wise. Overall pretty good, will Come back to eat & sit so that I can probably enjoy a full breakfast.

I had a well made latte with unique art on it. I enjoyed it while listening to country music, which I personally dig a lot but others might not! There is seating and a restroom. The only strange thing about it was the height of the tables and chairs. The tables that are well matched in height literally have eight legs to avoid. That is a lot.

Stick with the drinks, not the kitchen. The espresso was good, if a little stale, but the toasted bagel with cream cheese took almost 10 minutes to come out and it wasn't even toasted nor cut in half. Fine if the bagel was $1-2, but it was $5+. Pros: - Cute digs - Decent espresso Cons: - No value for the money - Slow, bad food

I ordered a ham, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich on a sesame bagel. It was decent, but was very small. There was very little meat, only 1 egg and the bagel was not toasted either. The cross section is pretty underwhelming (see pic). I don't plan on ordering it again

Friendly staff, but definitely overworked and understaffed. I orderer chicken and waffles and i kid you not, they took frozen eggo waffles out of the freezer and into the toaster. I'd be mad if it weren't hilarious. And for $16😅. I know plenty of ppl like eggo waffles, but just beware this is what youre getting when you order waffles (zoom into kitchen pic to see). Was also surprised to find the chicken smothered in cheese and gravy. If you go there, stick to the pancakes.

I went with my friend for brunch and each had an omelette. I ordered The Prospect with salmon and egg white which was one of the best omelets in my life. It was very juicy due to the sauce and not heavy. It becomes one of my favorite brunch places. The smoothies are great and the syrup selection for coffee is simply stunning. Love it

Good coffee, they had oat milk options, and friendly server. Feels like this could become a large chain one day. Brazil pastries all looked fresh early in the morning. Worth stopping by for a cup of coffee. Overall good vibe.

Friendly staff, good selection, decent quality food, several tables and counter seats.

We were in the area for a long weekend with kids, and came here for breakfast several times. The menu is quite varied, and food was excellent! My kiddos loved the waffle and omelette, and they also enjoyed their smoothies. Highly recommend for either sitting for breakfast or for a quick stop for coffee.

The team here was really nice and friendly!! Unfortunately I was just underwhelmed with the quality. The muffin was okay but it was pretty dry. The vibes in the coffee shop gave me "space ship/modern/clean" vibes, which felt a little cold to me. Like I didn't want to sit down and read a book there. Also, the tables are too high for the chairs. It would probably be easier to fix the chair height, but I was trying to write and it was really uncomfortable on my shoulders. Overall i felt pretty neutral on it... it was a fine place to stop but it just wasn't the right fit to be my regular place. I can't comment on the coffee tho haha, I don't drink it ‍

PROS: tasty lattes, lots of breakfast options, and great service CONS: WIFI didn't work Fortissimo's mocha and caramel lattes were delicious. The espresso was smooth and the flavors were subtle (not overly sweet). I'd definitely recommend trying! The breakfast/lunch menu was more extensive than most coffee places. I got the western omelet and it was great! The aioli + crispy onions were so good and the textures worked well together in the omelet. 4.5/5 stars!

Came here and was looking for some coffee. Asked the cashier if there was coffee in the mocha. She couldn't hear me, so I repeated my question. Then she literally repeated my question and she still didn't understand my question. Then my friend saw the menu again (it moves on the TV screen) and it listed espresso under mocha. So he said out loud that there was espresso, then she was able to understand the question. I would think that's a pretty simple question if you're working at a coffee shop. I ended up getting the mocha for $7.50 for a large. $7.50 for decent mocha, nothing special about it. Also, whether you order cold or hot, the price is usually the same. Not this place - I got the cold large thinking it was the same price as the hot size, but it wasn't. Anyways, I would skip this place. Price is steep with poor customer service.

Tough visit to Fortissimo coffeehouse. Was hoping for a good experience based off past reviews. We ordered some food and coffees. The latte was oversteamed and my iced mocha was very sweet carrying no coffee flavor. My muffin didn't taste fresh even after being heated. The breakfast was good but nothing to come back for. I believe this could've been a better experience if the cafe was staffed correctly as it seemed only 1 of the 2 employees knew what was going on.

Food 3.5/5 (some items are very tasty, but the quality is not consistent) service 3/5 environment 4/5 I ordered some exotic food items: Coxinha: tasted very good. It's basically a pear shaped dough filled with shredded chicken! I loved it Ground Beef Esfiha (Esfiha de Carne ): more like a triangle shaped empanada. tasted good cheese bread: I really wanted to like it since i'm always a fan of brazilian/columbia cheese bread. but this one might have been cooled down not properly. so it was collapsed. not fluffy anymore and the cheese and flour all stuck together inside of the bread which made it super hard to chew. Service was ok. When I came in, the staff were talking in the kitchen. I was standing in front of the counter for a while before someone slowly walked out to take my order. I liked the inside: super bright and clean store space with free wifi. good place for work. I did not try their coffee tho. If I really want to try those Empanada or cheese bread, I would probably go to East Boston for them. If you happen to be in union square and needed a place for simple brunch or coffee, this place is worth stopping by.

Meh.. cold brew was weak, and .75 for a splash of oat milk is ridiculous. Convenient spot on on Bow Street area with nice outdoor seating.

Fortissimo coffee house sucks. I went In Their to get some homework done and order a coffee and they beckoned me out because their policy on computers and taking up space. I do not know if there policy has changed but I do not recommend this buisness.

After reading other reviews I felt like I needed to chime in. A lot of Sunday mornings, me and my boyfriend walk around Union Square.. we go right by the enormous line at Neighborhood, hoping we can go someday.. and we usually end up at Fortissimo though we've tried a few other spots too. Fortissimo offers reasonable enough breakfast and coffee options and, depending on what you get, it's really high quality. My favorite so far has been the Western omelet but I've been trying other options too which have been decent. They seem understaffed so if there is a lot of people lined up they tend to get overwhelmed easily - it can take a little while to get the drinks/food. But I think it's worth the wait. The overall ambience is nice enough so that works for it too. I'm glad it's an option in the neighborhood for sure - would love to find even more great brunch options in the area that are reasonable too.

Went today for the first time so have only tried the sausage egg sandwich and latte. Both were pretty good! Maybe 8/10? I could tell the sandwich was fresh/hand made. Staff was nice and I recieved my order in a timely manner (I don't know if this is important, but I was one of only 2-3 people there at the time). I am giving 5 stars because I really can't think of any reason to complain, and I will probably be back.

Google Hours- say open 7am-5pm, called to confirm cause online booking website says closed. I ask "are you open", lady on other end goes "hahaha no" then hangs up. Glad I didn't waste my time walking here.

Ordered from Doordash bc it had free delivery. Got the croissant sausage sandwich, bagel w cream cheese, a blueberry muffin, and a cappuccino. The croissant sandwich was severely disappointing--especially for the price. The croissant was enormous, so the edges had no filling. The egg was extremely thin, but the part that made me laugh was the sausage: four mini links fried together. P sure they were frozen. Would not buy again. The bagel was clearly a day old, but not bad. It was really smooth, which for some reason always tips me off that this is not gonna be a great bagel. But anyways it was enjoyable if you really want a bagel. I just wouldn't go out of my way to buy it. The muffin was the same: enjoyable, a bit stale, wouldn't go out of my way to buy it. The cappuccino was weird and idek why. It's not super strong but it's not undrinkable. I'm just gonna say again that I wouldn't go out of my way to buy it. In fact, I would actually recommend Starbucks over this coffee. I'm conclusion, if you are actively searching for a coffee shop, look else where.

3.5/4 stars for me. Inside ambience was clean & airy! And staff was very friendly. Caramel macchiato was very yummy, creamy, good foam albeit a bit on the weaker side. My croissant egg sandwich was delicious but half my croissant was pretty charred. Would go back !

Alright. Let's do this. I had to come here three times before I felt I could leave a fair review. They have so many options and I'm such a routine person when it comes to breakfast. Each time I've been here there's been maybe three to four people. Plenty of room though. Not massive but you'll fit. I saw a review saying their signs were meant for hipsters? I felt they had more of a diner feel? Gave me some Waffle House menu aesthetic (I consider this a good thing). And can I just say.. you're in Somerville, dude. Of course there's going to be hipsters in this joint. There were also friends speaking in Portuguese and an older gentlemen reading a paper. And I am a bit offended at the whole "picture thick glasses and beanies." I'm blind without them and it's 30 degrees out, bro. So.. guy behind the counter asked if it was my first time since he had never seen me before (points). Then said Hey you're back both times I retuned (extra points). Friendly guy. Bacon, egg, cheese. I've done a bagel and an English muffin. Solid. I did ask them to "burn the bacon" after the first time. Let them know if you want your bacon crispy. I drink my coffee black. And the coffee here is, ya know, coffee. Sometimes I don't want a pour over or cold brew. Solid coffee for a cold morning. This past time I went I saw this bread biscuit looking thing that had no label near it so I asked what it was. He said it was a Brazilian cheesy bread and "it's really, really, really, really good. You should try it." Yep. I counted the reallys. So even though I have GERD and can set my esophagus on fire I was intrigued enough to order it and made a mental note to pick up more Tums on the way home. I allow myself one cheat like this every two weeks - worth it. Do it. Just do it. I mean what more do you want from me? It's cheese baked into bread. I may hate myself later for this, but right now I am very happy with my decision. There's a ton of other stuff on the menu. Did even delve into lunch yet. Will have to try a panini since they have the 10% off through Yelp.

Score of a find! The first time I just popped in for an ice coffee... so many syrup flavors!!! Came back again today and got a hot latte, very delicious...but the steal of the show... cheese bread!! So freaking gooey and salty and soft and doughy and everything good in the world. The vibe is very lively and positive with a Brazilian touch. I will be back for all of the breakfast items

Their iced mocha was delicious, it was a great balance of coffee & sweetness. Definitely will be coming again, and their service is great.

The "Best/Worst" dirty chai latte :) If you want a classic dirty chai latte, this won't be it, BUT, if you want the most delicious latte that tastes sort of like a snickerdoodle cookie, then definitely order one!! It's honestly my favorite drink, and what keeps me coming back, but again, it's kinda its own unique thing. Nice staff, cool interior, and great pastries.

We stopped by Fortissimo for breakfast and we're very happy. We had breakfast sandwiches, a mocha, caramel mochiatto,and breakfast quesadilla.

The coffee was just average and the girl behind the counter must have been having a bad day because anything I said made her snap at me. It was just me in there, it wasn't crowded. If it was busy and she was like that I would've understood a little more. I didn't ask stupid questions. Never will come back.

I stumbled upon Fortissimo when I was looking for a new place to go to lunch within walking distance for work. I'm so glad I did because I had a delicious and exciting meal here. I ordered a caramel macchiato and a chicken caesar salad, and was inspired to try a coxinha in the display case. The coxinha is a fried savory ball of chicken and cream cheese and served with ketchup, per Giovanna's recommendation. The chicken in the caesar salad was perfectly warm and tasted so fresh! The rest of the salad (bacon bits, lettuce, tomato, parmesan, croutons) was equally great but the chicken flavor was truly standout. I will definitely be coming here again to try their breakfast menu! Update: I still come back once a week or so and have always had great quality food. The seasonal hot chocolate (I ordered the cream mint) was delicious!

What was turning out be a great experience sadly went down hill. I happen to not finish my coffee and asked my partner (darker skinned Latino) to please ask for a to go cup on behalf. Unfortunately, my partner told me that he was asked multiple times if he had paid to which he responded yes! After responding yes multiple times the woman proceeded to check the system. What's crazy is she gave us the food, saw my partner and I eating in their outdoor section aaand who the hell would ask for a to go cup after not paying? My partner told me to let it go..but I thought y'all should know that colorism is real and not just some made up thing. We will definitely not be returning.

The drip coffee is cheap, but a little watery. There are 27 flavored syrups, presumably to compensate. The music is a playlist of late 2000's pop played without crossfade to provide an uncomfortable silence every 3-5 minutes. The interior is well lit, modern and plasticky. Every table is 3" too tall to use comfortably, presumably to keep people from sitting around and crowding the shop. It's working -- the place is empty. The woman sitting next to me said the egg sandwich is good, I didn't try it. 4/5.

Their egg, ham and cheese sandwich is to die for. It's so good, plus they are generous with the portion. You can share the egg ham and cheese sandwich with a friend. They recently replaced the side with canned fruits instead of a bag of cape cod chips. Fortissimo used to sell it for $4 but I am glad they increased the price. The new price is still affordable. The guava cheese balls are only ok. I would prefer the cheese balls All the staff are friendly which is a plus :)

I came here at recommendation of my boyfriend who holed up here to watch a soccer game on his laptop while I got a haircut down the street. He really appreciated the wifi, being able to sit here unbothered, and the coffee. He liked it so much we came back the next day for our Sunday afternoon of adulting (paying bills and online lectures). We spent a good amount of time there. I had a creme brulee latte - coffee was good. The topping was sweet but that's my bad (for ordering something obviously sweet). He had a regular coffee and later an acai smoothie. Both were good and all reasonably priced. The wifi was strong enough for us to both watch our respective videos, pay bills, write papers, etc. I also appreciated the printer. As a 20 something of 2019, I have been plagued by the issue of where to print when the rare need strikes. My only (very minor) complaint is they close pretty early. I know it's mostly a breakfast place but I was sad to leave at 4. I also felt the music was a bit loud to be able to do work, but not a big deal at all. Over all, nice place to hole up and do work. I'm really happy to support a small business and will definitely be coming back (maybe even to try some food).

This is a nice little cafe. There is free wifi and it's pretty fast -- conducive to working. There is a row of seats by the window with at least two plugs for charging. I tried the soy latte and it was okay. Also had the egg white omelet. It was huge and the chipotle mayo gave a nice spicy kick to it. With the mayo, it was a bit too heavy for me (but otherwise tasty). Staff was friendly and pleasant! Will be back to do work.

This is a great place to eat and have some coffee. The menu has more than just your typical coffeehouse fare, with some lunch items. I had an empanada, and it was very good, if a little small for the price. I had a speciality latte, and it was very beautifully done. It wasn't too sugary, which is always a worry, and there was quite a bit of it. The barista was nice, though at times he could seem overwhelmed with the amount of people. The atmosphere was very work-y, with few large, comfy chairs. Not the best place to relax, but a very good place to hunker down for the day and get some pages written.

The service is fantastic. The atmosphere is very relaxing. Perfect place to get some work done. The staff is also super friendly. I loved my coffee, too. I'll be back!

Small place that's not as busy as other places for breakfast and brunch around it. Casual order at the counter but there's seating inside and even a cute little outdoor area on the street. Food was completely average, breakfast quesadilla and french toast both good but nothing to really comment on. They also have a TON of self-serve flavored syrups at the milk and sugar station so you can play mixologist with your coffee, which is kinda fun. The staff was extremely friendly which is always a plus!

The food here is good but it takes forever in the morning. The last couple times I've ordered online it has taken 45 minutes to get one breakfast sandwich.

Good: Decent food (sadly not remotely good compared to close-by alternatives, free WiFi (also more and more common) and a nice seating area. Disturbing: Yay for freedom of religion! I'm 3000% for it. That being said, wall-to-wall Christian Evangelical Fundamentalist pop music is as non-business-savvy as any other religion (insert all other religions' "modern music" here). Recommend: neutral music anyone can enjoy and/or not be weirded out by. If the owners don't like the implicit messages of mainstream tunes, try classical, jazz, or some light instrumental stuff - there are zillions of other options that won't offend your values. Anyway, I personally won't be returning, and will recommend everyone stay clear of this place. Paying for coffee, not background preaching.

Fortissimo is such a great little spot! I usually get my order to go, but I have stopped by for some coffee and cheese breads before. People are nice and the service is quick. My favorite thing to get here are the cheese breads. They are pretty big for cheese breads and the taste brings me right back to my grandma's house when she would make them. They are cheesy, not greasy, and just perfect. I also like their guava stuffed cheese bread which I had never had before though I wish they would add more guava. The only thing that isn't so great is the coffee, but everything else makes up for it

Nice cosy coffee place. Nice to have a neighbor hood coffee and also nice pastry. Always worth to swing by. A bit more selection would allow a 5 the star.

Good selection of lattes and breakfast/lunch options. They have an assortment of syrups you can pump into your coffee free of charge. Nice place to get some bite/coffee and get some work done.

The coffee is okay, the food is okay. The friendly & positive service and clean space is what bumps this place to a 3. The bagel sandwich I had was fine, but the "Fortissimo" plate my partner got was rather plain & sad looking for all that was included. If you just need a calorie & caffeine boost this place is fine in a pinch, but I don't see myself actively seeking it out or going out of my way to go here. At least they have free Wifi.

For all of the people who complain about "the hipster place" in Union Square, there is salvation a short walk away and the only fixed gear bikes in front of the place are for the bike shop nextdoor. Friendly staff, really freaking good coffee, and the prices are more reasonable than a bloc away.

Around the corny from the crazy hipset vibe of Bloc is the down-home, calmer, and cheaper haven of Fortissimo. The gentleman who I have always seen there is kind and warm, conversational but not overbearing. The coffee is really good. I'm no coffee snob (and admittedly like mine light and sweet), but it does the job for me. I've had it to go a couple times (both hot and iced) and I have no complaints. The one time I had it in the store I got served in a delightful 'real' mug, which is always a treat. The to go cardboard just feels sad sometimes. Along with that, their pastries look delicious. I haven't yet succumbed to try any, but it's just a matter of time. The breakfast sandwich I had on a bagel was simple but tasty, and I'll definitely be back for more.

Forward thinking cafe with too many menus on too many walls and too many signs cat-calling their target demo (hint, hint: skinny jeans and thick frames). Hot teas ($2.50) made iced by a shallow steep of a Mighty Leaf teabag, followed by a pour over unto too little ice. If I wanted floral water, I'd drink from a vase. Free wifi, a terrific sweet and moist corn muffin ($2.50), and plenty of savory options for lunch. At last visit, there's a Yelp check-in offer for 10% off a panini. Atmosphere is extremely comfortable, and the cushioned seats have yet to be overrun by squatters, which means you'll get the La-Z-Boy* if you want it. It's clean, pricey for what it delivers, yet endearing in its own way. Please, please, please consolidate your menus to one wall. Bird-necking first-time customers is unbecoming. *Brand not guaranteed...

Another great coffee shop in Union Square! Yes! We stopped by on Saturday morning to try out the coffee, and it did not disappoint. I ordered a small house coffee but definitely received a large, as did the people in front of me (perhaps they just have one size mugs if you order for-there? I'm fine with that!). The sandwiches seemed to be reasonably-priced in the $5-$6 range, and they were also making omelets for breakfast which sounded delicious. I'll be back for the food soon. The boo enjoyed his espresso, and he tends to be a coffee snob (I know, I hate that expression too, sorry). They have a record player which is a nice touch, and asked us to pick the next record. That was fun. Overall, a nice cosy spot on Somerville ave to relax with a good cup of coffee. I'll be back soon!

I'm selfishly reluctant to write a review in the event that it'll start drawing too many people here. It's certainly a gem hidden amongst all the coffee houses in the Boston area. Tables are nicely spaced apart, decor is clean and artsy, and coffee / food are tasty. I spent most of Sunday here catching up on work, and the place was never more than a third occupied. Only thing I'd like more is bigger portion size - my turkey jerk panini had only one or two slices of turkey, which I thought was too few for the price.

I really didn't like there mocha. They do have a cool wall of many many many flavor pumps you can choose a flavor or mix a few if you wanted.

Enjoy Starbucks but want to support local businesses and desire actual food? This is your place. Went here for breakfast, absolutely a college/study Starbucks type of establishment. Nonetheless, the food was good (got an omelette) and the coffee was also good (got some fancy cappuccino). Seating was limited - parties bigger than 4 may want to look for another place if you're looking to sit down together.

It's an appealing looking place, but they really need to do a better job with their espresso drinks. It's way too bitter (burnt beans) and they don't really know how to steam milk. Maybe hiring a more experienced barrista would help? Tldr, it'll get the job done in a pinch, but otherwise go somewhere else.

First time i came this store and worst experience ever.Service is worst. Who working cashier guys is super rude.Even i don't want to gave to 1 star. I wait for order 45 min just omelet!Don waste your time and your money!

A barista with confidence in his skill and product is always nice to see, but when the espresso doesn't back up the hype, it is unfortunate. The latte was a little on the hot side, but not too bad. For a drink that had terrible latte art, the microfoam actually had very nice consistency. The problem was the shot of espresso. The roast is way too dark to get good flavor out of the beans. I don't think the barista had a shot at making a great drink. Everything just got overwhelmed. I'd suggest switching espressos. While Bloc 11 around the corner serves Intelligentsia and there are a lot of Barismo coffee shops popping up, they could serve some Stumptown or Counterculture and come up with a nice product.

Came in around 11:30am - on Thursday - bout 4 customers here. Was clean and cool. Ordered almond croissant and coffee. Coffee was ok at best, the croissant was heated for a short amount of time. The first bite was chewy and tasted stale. The inside was cold and only the thinner areas like warm. Was served on a bamboo tablet. Free WiFi. Music was just a little too loud. The guy at the service was in and out of the back so customers had to kinda wait, tho he was pleasant enough no pleasantries besides business transactions. Pastry case looks great but not sure it's fresh :( the menu seems extensive for such a little coffee shop. I'll have to try the waffles and chicken next time. They ran out of straws while I was here lol

Good coffee. Big bike rack right out front of the store. Plenty of seating / tables, as well as power outlets if you need to do work. Free wifi, but you have to ask for the password. Here are some speedtest.net results I ran when connected to the wifi: http://www.speedtest.net/my-result/5696012914

The girl at the cash register was a little pushy about selling the patties. I had already ordered two and she was insisting that I purchased another. They served the coffee on a small wooden slat (for dine in) which I don't think is practical for hot beverages. The spoon slid right off the wood onto the floor as the barista was handing me my order over the counter. The coffee spilled but luckily I wasn't burnt. The expresso was a bit stronger than I was expecting so I went to add some sugar to it. The manager approached me, to offer assistance. I did not ask for assistance by the way. He seemed offended that I didn't like the coffee. He then went behind the counter to fix me another cup. I could hear him explaining to an employee about my reaction to the taste of the coffee. His tone of voice was not pleasant. They talked about me as if I wasn't there. Or as if I didn't have ears to hear them. I did not feel welcomed there and so I left before I initially intended. The pastries I ordered were cold in the middle. The place is, however, very modern and clean. The menu prices were also affordable but unfortunately, I will never be a return customer there.